Surgical bandage



May 22, 1928..

A. WALKIEWICZ SURGICAL BANDAGE Filed Dec. 23, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a a. i 1 Q G 1 Jml o'v filqander Mummy May 22, 1928. 1,670,916

A. WALKIEWICZ SURGICAL BANDAGE K Filed Dec. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 gwvmtoz May 22, 1928. 1,670,916

A. WALKIEWICZ SURGICAL ammen Filed Dec. 23. 1926 s sheets-sheet 3 11 1 cfllqaqdcr Mixiewica.

Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED TAT S .ALEXANDER .WALKIEWICZ, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

S R A seamen- Application filed December 23, ggs. Serial No. 156,593.

This invention relates ,to certain new and useful improvements in surgical bandages, and has more particular reference to an llYlproved form of belt adapted to be worn in some instances without a pad or pads and by a person anticipating a rupture, so as to exert an easy but firm pressure on the weak part and thereby aid in forestalling the actual occurrence of a rupture.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a belt of the above kindwhich is so constructed as to insure against the irritation of the skin or other discomfort to the wearer, and so constituted asto exert an even pressure at all times while permitting extreme freedom of movement of the body while being worn. a i A. still further object is to provide a belt of the above kind which may be readily placed into use and adjusted to suit therequirements of the user. I

A still further object is to provide, in a truss, an improved form of belt, and means whereby the belt maybeequipped in an improved manner, with one or two pads, in accordance with the number of ruptured parts with which the user is atllicted.

Still another object is to provide a truss embodying an improved form of belt and means for attaching a pad or pads thereto whereby the pad or pads nay be readily adjusted to the most effective and comfortable position upon the ruptured ,part, and where by maintenance of the pad orvpads in such adjusted position is insured in an effective manner by applying the pressure to the pad or pads at a plurality of spaced points about the edge thereof.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists inthe novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a front perspective view of as double rupture or two-pad truss embodying my invention; 7

Figure 2 is a rear perspective Vl\V' 0f the dev ce shown 1n Figure 1;

converted for use in connection with a single ruptured part, at which time the connection between the two pads and one of the pads and its crotch strap of the device Figure 1, are removed; t

Figure 4=is a front perspective view of an embodiment of my invention consisting of'a belt to be worn by a person toaid in forestalling an anticipated rupture, and wherein the device of Figures 1 or 3 is slightly modified by eliminating the pads and crotch straps; j

Figure 5 is a rear view of the belt shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view,

"partly broken away, showing details of the the truss shown in Figure 1; igure 7 is avertical section taken substantially upon line 7-7 of Figureflj and 'Fignre 8 is a "fragmentary longitudinal section taken .upon line 8- 8 of Figure "3.

'Befe rringmore in detail to the drawings, the present inventio n primarily embodies an insert section or pad connecting element of improved form'of'surgiCaI belt-including a relatively. wide inelasticband of a length to partly pass about the waist, and composed of a strip 5 of leather or other comparatively stifi' butflexible and durable materiahhaving its inner surface completely eoveredby a lining 6 of linen or other suitable soft and liigh ly flexible fabric capableof being worn re uming skin without causing irritation or over-heating. The leather strip 5 and its lining arepreferably, secured together by stitching the same near their edges as indicated at 7 and it will be noted that the band applied at the bakandbrought forwardly around the sides sothat itsends are suitably spaced at thei front, the distance of spacing depending upon whet-her the belt is worn alone, with one pad or with two pads. The belt further includes two pairs of spaced superini osed elastic straps 8 and 9 freely dispose on the outer surface of the band 5, 6, the pairs of the elastic strapsbein' g secured at corresponding ends as at 8 and 9, respectively, to the adjacent side portions of the inelastic band near the back of the latter. Thus, the points of attachment 8 and 9 of the pairs of elastic straps 8 and 9 to the inelastic band are in spaced relation and at the ends of the back or intern'iediate portion of the inelastic band as is clearly shown in Figures and 5.

In all forms of the invention, adjustable means is provided for connection of the ad jacent forward free ends of the elastic pairs of straps 8 and 9 so that-the belt is adjustably connected at the front without effect-- ing connect-ion of the adjacent ends of the inelastic band. It is therefore apparent that the inelastic band .is capable of yielding for allowing freedom of movement of the body of the wearer, by reason of the elasticity of the straps 8 and 9 whose ends are connected, and at the same time the inelastic band will be firmly pressed to the waist at all times. As the inelastic band completely protects the body from being contacted by the elastic straps 8 and 9, the lat-- ter cannot cause chafing of the skin and similar irritations. In order to maintain the ad jacent free end portions of the elastic straps 8 and 9 in their proper spaced superimposed relation at the adjacent end portions of the inelastic band, said end portions of the inelastic band are provided with double guide loops 10 through which the free end portions of the straps 8 and 9 freely extend.

l/Vhen the belt is worn as an aid in forstalling an anticipated rupture and for general body bracing purposes Without a pad or pads as shown in Figures 1 and 5, separate adjustable connections are provided between the upper straps 8 and 9 and the lower straps 8 and 9 respectively. As shown, each connection includes an inelastic strap 11 at tached at one end to the adjacent end of the associated elastic strap 9, and adjustably associated at its other end portion with a buckle 12 or the like attached to said end of said strap 9 so as to form a loop slidably engaged in an end eye of a slotted separable fastener element 13. The slotted fastener plates 13 engage headed studs 1A on the adjacent ends of the elastic straps 8 so that the latter are detachably connected to the elastic straps 9, and it will be seen that by adj usting the loops 11, the belt may not only be adjusted in size but the loops 11 may be separately adjusted for bringing the desired pressure to bear upon the waist above and below the longitudinal medial line of the belt. As the inelastic band 5, 6 has its ends projecting beyond the ends of the clastic straps 8 and 9, and the latter are disposed outwardly of said inelastic band, the elastic straps 8 and 9 are effectively prevented from contacting with the skin so that irritation from this source is avoided.

By slight modification and the use of attachments, the belt of Figures 1 and 5 may be used to constitute the belt of a double pad truss as in Figure 1 or as the belt of a single pad truss as in Figure 3. Referring to the double pad truss of Figures 1 and 2, the belt is the same as described in connection with Figures 4 and 5 except that instead of providing the free ends of the straps 8 with the studs 1 1, inelastic straps 11 and buckles 12 are attached thereto to form adjustable loops slidably engaging the eyes of slotted fastener plates 13. A pair of pads 15 are provided. and each pad is provided with a rigid metal backing plate 16 having a pair of rigid headed studs 17 adjacent each side edge thereof. As shown, onepad is arranged adjacent each free end of the inelastic band, and the fastener plates 13 detachably engage the headed studs at the adjacent side of one of the pads, while the fastener plates 13 similarly engage the adjacent pair of studs 17 of. the other pad. The pads 15 are disposed in spaced relation and connected at adjacent sides by the use of an insert section as shown in Figures 1. 2 and 6. This insert section includes a short inelastic band section composed of an outer strip 5 of leather and an inner lining strip 6 of linen or the like, and having a vertically disposed double loop 10 secured upon its outer surface. Secured within the loops 10 in spaced superimposed relation are elastic strap sections 9 having adjustable loops upon the ends thereof, each slidably engaged in the eye of a metallic fastener plate 13 similar to the fastener plates 18 and 13% The adjustable loops carrying the fastener plates 18*, as shown clearly in Figure 6, are formed by inelastic straps'll, each attached at one end to an end of an elastic strap 9 and adjustably engaged at its other end portion with a buckle 12 attached to said end of said elastic strap 9. The fastener plates 13 at one end of the insert sectiondetachably engage the studs 17 upon the adjacent side of the adjacent pad 15, while the fastener plates 13 at the other end of the insert section similarly engage the headed studs 17 at the adjacent side of the other pad 15. It will thus be apparent that connection of each of the pads to the belt is bad at four spaced points, two at each side of the pad so that the latter is brought to bear with a firm and even pressure upon the. injured part when the various loops are adjusted in length to place the elastic straps 8', 9 and 9 under the required tension. Moreover, as the metallic fastener plates 13, 13 and 13 are pivotally engaged with the headed studs, the various loops may be differently adjusted to turn or rotarily adjust the pads to the most desirable and effective position. As an example, the upper loop 11 may be adjusted larger than the lower loop 'Ll while, the Iupfperloo'p l l adjustment of a- .pad about its horizontal ill) axis. As the :band section carryingthe elastic strap sections -9 is slightly longer than he lattensaidl-atio Strap sec ion 9 y not engage and irritate the skin. Extending centrally and circumferentially of the back portion of the inelastic band 5, 6 between the points 8 and 9 where the elastic straps 8 and 9 are attached to said inelastic band, is a strap which is stitched at its ends and intermediate its ends to the inelastie band as at 18 and 19.to form a pair of loops 20 with which are slidably and detachably engaged the loops 21 carryingthe buckles 22, one loop 21 being engaged with each loop 20. A crotch strap 23 is detachably and adjustably engaged at its rear end with each buckle 22 and detachably engaged at its forward end with the pad 15 at the adjacent side of the belt, the connectionof the forward end of each strap 23 with its associated pad 15, being effected by the use of a slotted fastener plate 2d upon saidend of the strap 23 engaged with a further headed stud 25 upon the bottom edge portion of the backing plate 16 of said associated pad 15. The stud 25 is disposed spaced from and intermediate the lower ones of the side studs 17, and thus each pad is provided with five points of connection of straps therewith. The crotch straps of course further act to firmly hold the pads in place and guard against upward shifting thereof and similar shifting of the belt. From the above description it is apparent that the belt of Figures 4; and 5 may be readily modified by equipping the same with the loops 20 and substituting the elements 11 l2 and 13 for the headed studs 14, so that the crotch straps, pads and insert section may be utilized therewith for pro- Viding a double truss. In a like manner, the belt of Figures 4 and 5 may be similarly modified for use without the insert section and with only one pad and crotch strap to provide a single truss as shown in Figure 3. Obviously, when a single crotch strap is used as shown in the last mentioned figure, its rear end portion may be engaged with a loop placed upon either of the loops 20 as desired. From an inspection of Figure 3 it will be readily seen that the construction of the single pad truss is identically the same as that of the double pad truss except that the insert section and one of the pads with its associated crotch strap are eliminated, the fastener plates 13 being engaged with the studs 17 at one side of the pad used, and the fastener plates 13 being similarly engaged with the studs 17, directly, at the other side of the same pad. Naturally, by adjusting the loops 11 to a different length than the length .ef the loops 11,.the single .pad l5v-uscdlin Figure 3 may "be; adjusted to either. side.

ZErom the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have ,provideda surgical bandage includinga belt which may be comfortably worn, which may be readily applied and removed, and which when applied,

will exert an easy but firm pressure and will.

not cause irritation or other discomfort. It will also be seen that when a pad or pads is or are used, its or their retention in proper position is insured, and a most convenient adjustment therefor is made possible, while movement of the pad or pads from adjusted position is effectively prevented.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. A truss comprisinga main inelastic flexible belt band section having the rear ends of a. pair of spaced superposed elastic straps freely disposed outwardly thereof and attached thereto at each side thereof, a pad disposed at each end of said main belt band section and having the front ends of the adjacent pair of elastic straps detachably connected to the adjacent side thereof, an insert inelastic flexible band section disposed between the pads, and a further pair of straps carried by said insert band section and having their ends detachably connected to the adjacent other sides of said pads, said further straps being elastic, and all of said elastic stra s being arranged on the outside of the banc sections'thereof- 2. A truss comprising a main inelastic flexible belt band section having the rear ends of a pair of spaced superposed elastic straps freely disposed outwardly thereof and attached thereto at each side thereof, a pad disposed at each end of said main belt band section and having the front ends of the adjacent pair of elastic straps detachablyv connected to the adjacent side thereof, an insert inelastic flexible band section disposed between the pads, and a further pair of straps carried by the outer side of said insert band section and having their ends detachably connected to the adjacent other sides of said pads, the connections between the ends of all of said straps and the pads each embodying an adjustable loop having a fastener member slidably engaged therewith and detachably engaged with the asso- I ciated pad.

3. A truss comprising a main inelastic flexible belt band section having the rear ends of a pair of spaced superposed elastic straps freely disposed outwardly thereof and attached thereto at each side thereof, a pad disposed at each end of said main belt band section and having the front ends of the adjacent pair of elastic straps detachinsert band section and having their ends detachably connected to the adjacent other sides of said pads, a pair of horizontal loops carried by the back of the main band section and each having a vertical loop slidable thereon, and crotch straps detachably engage-d With the bottoms of the pads and ad jnstably connected to the vertical loops.

In testimonv whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER WVALKIEWICZ. 

